HawkStrong: Kylie Brown excels as the sole female student-athlete on the HFC roller hockey club
HFC student-athlete Kylie Brown knew she would be in a unique position on an otherwise all-male roller hockey roster at HFC.
“It didn’t bother me at all, being the only woman on the team,” said Brown, of Garden City. “Coach (Rick) Fenwick respects me, he respects my skills, and treats me as he would any other player on the team. I also feel respected by my teammates.”
A major contributor
Initially, Brown planned to play roller hockey at a university but decided to come to HFC because it was a better fit for her. The HFC roller hockey club is a Division 1 team in the National College Roller Hockey Association, and that provided even more incentive.
“I told her to come play for us for the (2022-23) season and she could enroll at a university the next year,” said Fenwick. “She was a major contributor and enjoyed playing on our team so much that she is planning to stay through next season!”
Falling in love with roller hockey
The eldest of three and only daughter, Brown has been playing roller hockey for 13 years.
“I attended a sports camp when I was 6 in Bend, OR, playing flag football, soccer, and all sorts of sports. The local roller hockey coach, John Kromm, suggested to my family that I should give roller hockey a try. I learned to skate and play hockey, falling in love with the game every time I stepped on the floor,” recalled Brown.
Brown is studying elementary education at HFC. In 2024, she plans to transfer to Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania, where she will finish her undergraduate education and continue her athletic career.
“My experience at HFC has been amazing! The teachers are great, very personable and approachable. The counselors are super helpful,” she said. “HFC has made me feel more confident academically. Athletically, HFC has prepared me for future competition in college athletics.”
Dreams of “coaching in a classroom”
Even though she was committed to attending a university, Brown is glad that she changed her mind and made the decision to attend HFC instead.
“I would absolutely recommend people attend HFC! It is a great place to begin college, especially if you are coming right out of high school. I am very happy with my decision to attend HFC for two years instead of jumping right into a university,” she said. “The best part about attending HFC is that I can attend classes online or in-person. I could get all the help I needed with anything I wasn’t sure about.”
Her ultimate career goal is to teach at the elementary level and coach hockey.
“In 10 years, I see myself living somewhere in Arizona, coaching hockey and teaching a second-grade class in an elementary school. I will continue to play roller hockey in local and out-of-state tournaments. I want to build my own organization, coaching and running many teams!” she said. “I really enjoy helping and coaching others, especially young players. That’s what teaching is: It’s coaching in a classroom. It’s teaching young people to love learning and set them up for success. I look forward to growing the next generation.”
